RVA2CLT

CBRE arranges $50 million loan for EpiCentre owner Any speculation over this $50 Mil possibly being used toward finishing off 210 Trade?

I wonder if the SENA/CCP had anything to do with this since the rest of South End TODs are currently zoned w/ height restrictions to mid-rise. Perhaps they influenced the developer to fit that mold. Maybe since Camden is supposed to build another TOD on South next to Publix, they want to maintain good relationships with the neighborhood leaders by reaching a compromise on their design to fit 'The Vision for South End'.

^^ that is extremely disappointing. Any idea if they plan to still keep the 9k sq ft of ground level retail space and the same amount of apartments as well or is the whole thing being scaled way back?

^^ I'm not totally opposed to something residential along there However, I just feel like this design wouldn't really work in that spot. Yeah this rendering looks good, but I think it wouldn't translate to a quality place to live and would feel forced. The grade in the back up to 277 in would block all views for the firs 3/4 floors and the put the roadway directly in line of site with 4/5 floors and then that whole area still feels so sterile and this design just doesn't fit for me, maybe something more architecturally urban-inspired with 8-12 floors, but IMO this feels like a South Park/Endishy project that wandered into a corner of center city that's not quite yet ready to define itself especially with the uncertainty if Brooklyn Village, or a similar project, will move forward in that area. Maybe I would feel different if there weren't so many other residential projects underway around town with similar design ques but, when I think of what 2nd ward is and should be I just don't think this residential development 'in it's current design' should be built there. I mean how do you all envision 2nd Ward by 2020? We all can feel what 3rd Ward's is becoming (soon to be everyone's favorite ward) and once Gateway is built it becomes the front door/welcome mat to the city. But what about 2nd, will it just be filled with a myriad of this and that low/mid rise residential projects, some miscellaneous infill office buildings? I could see residential there but ,something with more height, urban design and with actual street presence/frontage to set a president in that area. Not this.

I just run/bike past that little corner all the time and just think it' a poor spot for the 4/5 story type of residential project planned there. Compared to all other options and locale of current developments, as a renter I wouldn't consider it. Again IMO, I think that whole strip between stonewall and 277 is prime for future commercial property developments.

^^ Personally, I think something else would work better in that location as that residential project seemed way to forced into that little corner shoved up against 277. Even though It would only be a block or 2 for the Metropolitan, IMO Second Ward is not yet suitable for that type of residential project.

^^ Yeah and how the most notable example of designing the project to blend in with the NoDa neighborhood mentioned is "The Yards will feature large graffiti on its walls". I'm pretty sure the current populous from the surrounding areas would take care of that gratis. I wonder if this project would have taken on a different design if the BLE was already complete or under construction in the area since Yards will be completed and move-in ready a good 2-3 years prior to LTR service though the hood.

Yards @ NoDa should break ground within the next few weeks: http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/real_estate/2013/03/gvest-partners-to-build-342-apartments.html

^^ Great for Charlotte! Terrible for my commute to/from Ballantyne since my office is right next to those new buildings. I loath the design of Ballentyne so much; I wake up angry in the middle of the night wondering what Bissell Co. development visionary thought: "Hey lets build an office park designed for thousands of employees with road infrastructure & highway access that can't even effectively handle dozens of vehicles. Perfect!"

^^ Right, so which stations are being upgraded for 3 car capacity on the southline? I wonder if that means that the BLE will only have a few select stations of 3 car capacity as well.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the Capacity Expansion Project (upgrades for 3 car trains) will coincide/be included with BLE? Basically, is the new construction of the extension north already planned/budgeted for 3 car trains and will the south line will be simultaneously retro-fitted and expanded?

From my understandng, South End's current zoned parcels includes height restrictions to midrises. Only the West & Camden lot were the height restrictions not included, that is why that project will be the approximate height of The Ashton. Unless SENA/CCP revises this with the city I doubt we see any towers that far down (especially in the Camden Square area) IMO these developments would fit better in the empty parking lots of north South End/ above Carson. Also, the CHA's Strawn Tower renovation is complete and I would love to see the Stawn Master Plan begin implementation as helping bridge te gap of N. SouthEnd/ Uptown.

all serious discussion aside.. Is anyone else amuse that SKYE is still user construction in the rendering? Any bet-takers this thing can get built before the Small Bros finish their Albatross?

I am doing my duty as a patriotic American! I'm sacrificing a goat to Toby Keith. Toby Keith doesn't want to be fed. Toby Keith wants to hunt!

Also, how would the planned Street Car Extension cross those tracks on Central as well?

I can understand your point of view, but the whole marketing campaign is meant to be a bit 'tongue in cheek'. Here's a few more that are similar in their wording. . and then the one run during the holidays Regardless if you like them or not, they got you talking about them, and that's the whole idea

I bet Ole Patty McCheese is feeling pressure from Raleigh's transit proponents crying: "Why does Charlotte get all the state money for transit?! They already have LTR and receiving more stated funds to lengthen it, at the same time they have their own funds to build a street-car line from scratch! When do we, the capital city, get state money to even begin our LTR?!"

Just my 2¢ I can understand those prices being shell shock to those not used to seeing rates like that but, if you've ever lived in the North East from DC on up, $1,800 for a 3 bedroom in a new building, luxury amenities, covered parking, next to transit, surrounded by bars, restaurants, retail and close proximity to the city is unheard of and a steal. For example we paid about $1700 for a 1 bedroom in NoVA about 1.7 miles from the Metro, no updated anything or even close to 'luxury' and our building was seasonally switched from to heat or A/C, each unit could not run interdependent as the whole building had to be switched. This was the best compromise we could find over a month of looking, without settling for some place and being unhappy. So from a personal prospective I am absolutely thrilled at what my NoVA cost of living gets me down here. I'm sure that new demographics coming from the north down here have the same sentiments versus the local/regional population who's never had to deal with such high costs of living.

Mosaic SouthEnd has several 3 Bed/2 Bath available immediately for between $1703 - $2901. Moving in immediate and signing a 12 month lease will get you the low end of that price range. where as, moving in a couple months from now and signing a 6 month lease will get you in the high end of that price range.

Spectrum was given an extension until June 1st to close on this deal, they are still trying to raise the capital for the project. http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/going_green/2013/01/brooklyn-village-spectrum-delayed.html

Yeah, we didn't make the evening out of it that we thought. Stopped in for a couple of drinks and to check it out but, left early once it started to get crowded. I'm looking forward stopping by after work on the weekdays though to see what the Happy Hour crowd/feel is like. Hopefully, it'll have a more relaxing, upscale lounge feel they are claiming to be going for b/c Saturday was not that way at all. Luciano's is way behind their anticipated opening date. I know they are now hiring staff, but it's been a long time coming. This article from Dec 2nd said they were supposed to open up months earlier, so it has to be soon (within a month maybe?). It could be all dependent on the liquor license though and I am not familiar with how long that usually takes in this town.

Just wanted to share the bullet points from the meeting the other night and share the 'South End - Good to Great' brochure which is just a nice colorful overview of the 6 main focus areas. The 2 main areas covered at the meeting were: 1) Review & update of 'The South End Strategic Plan' and how SENA/CCP are implementing the recommendations in this plan. - The retail study is complete and will be released soon, - The parking study is about to begin, - $140K to be invested in new street furniture (benches, trash/recycle cans, bike rack, planters) throughout all of South End - visioning study underway for the Rail Trail - land acquired by Park & Rec for a future park space. 2) New brand campaign launched. - SENA/CCP worked with Doggett Advertising (a South End firm) on the creative for a new South End campaign and shared some of the ads you will see in print, TV and radio. - Also part of this is the completion of a new South End website…http://www.historicsouthend.com of which we also used a South End firm, CGR Creative.

It fits the venue of Epicenter. Personally I would loved to have seen an Angelika Film Center here. You would have a the creme' of of the big box movies, but more important a local venue to screen independent, international, film festival and even local/regional/student films along with, less importantly, alcohol and cafe' type food. However, I do not see the current Epicenter clientele/regulars as being as.. how can I say this without sounding douchey... well.. not being as culturally involved and interested to support and fully utilize such a Cinema hous. It's a shame though.. as the Angelika in Dallas is at a mixed use TOD called Mockingbird Station and is as close to the Epicenter/ CTC Station as it gets. Arial view of the entire station and TOD development. Even though this is TOD, it totally feels more more like the Metropolitan development when you're there

^^Hahaha, it's not as bad as all that. Here's some pictures of the interior to give you an idea of what to expect. Although most are stand alone, so I can't the exterior facade being very similar to the above. Maybe something more like below. and some examples of the interior. and the ladies like it Here's a link to the Menu (Georgia since it's the closest in prox) Maybe ours will be a little more Charlotte/Carolina geared, and have local craft beers and BBQ. Like I said, s'alright experience.

SMG is a chain, I caught a couple movies there while in Dallas. You get a table, a full menu and a server in theater.. oh and alcohol... s'alright experience.